* * *

The Thrift Shop at the Edmond Town Hall is observing its 47th birthday this year and, to celebrate the occasion, is inviting townspeople to its combined anniversary-Easter sale on Wednesday, March 17. After a glance around the tiny shop, it’s soon obvious that you’d have to go a long way to beat the bargains here.

* * *

Davey Brothers grocery and deli on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook recently reopened. The business had been closed for 3½ months after a fire damaged the building. Davey Brothers is owned by John Davey, Sr and Joseph Davey, who along with Mrs Davey, decided to open the grocery/deli because of a similar family business which existed years ago. Joseph’s father was bought out by First National Stores during the depression. One of the stores in the chain was where the Sandy Hook Post Office is now.

* * *

It is one of the few “really joyous days” in the generally somber Jewish calendar of holy days, said Rabbi Randall J. Konigsburg of Adath Israel Synagogue about the festival of Purim, which the Newtown congregation celebrated Monday, March 8. And there is reason for the joy, because Purim is the celebration of the deliverance of the Children of Israel living in Persia from the murderous designs of one Haman, an advisor to the king of Persia.

* * *

Newtown police officers on the force at least 10 years will be able to “shoot for” a non-paying, honorary promotion following a decision Tuesday night, March 2, by the Board of Police Commissioners. Chief Louis B. Marchese recommended to the police board that it install the rank of corporal to give some recognition to those officers who, while not running into an award-winning situation, still “day after day do such a good job.”

* * *

Polly Fitzpatrick, Newtown’s senior sanitarian, was selected Young Career Woman by the Business and Professional Women’s Club of Newtown. Miss Fitzpatrick holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental science from Fairfield University. Miss Fitzpatrick, 27, is a member of the Connecticut Environmental Health Association.

* * *

The joy of making music reaches back into history, a time when people amused themselves by making their own instruments. Middle Gate teachers’ aide Joan Sprung made that time come alive for children on Tuesday when she and the Learning Center presented a program of traditional American music. Alternating between guitar, banjo, and dulcimer, she played sea chanties, contemporary nonsense songs and old favorites as the students accompanied her on such primitive instruments as the Jew’s harp and spoons, as well as by clapping their hands and singing.

 

March 15, 1957

The Newtown Board of Education has announced its new salary schedule for teachers, to become effective in September 1957. A beginning teacher with a bachelor’s degree will start at $3,900. The maximum for teachers with a bachelor’s degree is set at $6,100. The new schedule reflects an increase of $400 a year in the minimum and maximum salaries for the three levels of training background.

* * *

A standing-room-only crowd of almost 600 electors reached early and nearly unanimous agreement Friday night when they voted down a proposal that Newtown purchase the Aiken property adjacent to Edmond Town Hall to be held for future expansion of the town hall facilities. Selectman Jack Rosenthal explained that he voted against the “extravagance” because the town has ample land at the present town hall site, adequate for the foreseeable future.

* * *

It was carnival time at the Teen Canteen last Saturday evening, March 9, and the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall was transformed into a mid-way. Booths lined sides of the room at which the young people played games of skill and chance. The fortune telling booth did a brisk business throughout the evening.

* * *

NEWTOWN HIGH NOTES: The senior office, practice students are getting experience in the correct and incorrect use of the telephone by using the Teletrainer. This instrument includes two phones with 25 feet of wiring and a control box for simulating dial tone, busy signals and the ringing of either phone. Students have been working in groups preparing conversation even thought the participants are in another room.

* * *

Plans for the second annual Student Town Government Day to be held March 29 were approved at the Monday evening meeting of a steering committee activated by the Newtown Parent-Teacher Association. The STGD project has for its goal the promotion of a better informed and understanding public and gives students practical experience in voting, town governmental practices and public speaking.

* * *

Reports from the various district captains indicated that as of last week about 15 percent of the $4,000 goal in the drive for the American Red Cross memberships had been obtained. There has been a great deal of illness in Newtown which accounts for the rather slow start. Home solicitations are always the backbone of the membership drive and it is very important that the captains and workers do their utmost to have the campaign in full swing by the end of the week.

 

March 11, 1932

In the matter of protection of highway travel where the tracks of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company cross at a grade a trunk line highway at a point known as Creamery Crossing at Hawleyville in the Town of Newtown, and in the interest of public safety the Commission recommends that The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company install on or before April 1, 1932, standard flashing light signals of the type approved by this Commission.

* * *

Throughout the length and breadth of the town there went up a loud, vigorous and angry protest (when the announcement became public), of the increase in the tax rate of three mills over last year. Chairman Stuaart of the Finance Board, called his associates together, Wednesday night, with selectmen, town treasurer, and representatives of the School Board, for a re-examination of the budget with a view of reducing it, if possible. The result of their labors, Wednesday night, in making reductions, so that the rate will be 20½ mills, will be hailed on all sides with satisfaction and delight.

* * *

Owing to the icy condition of the state road on the east approach to Mt Pleasant, in the early hours of Monday, about 35 autoists were stranded by the side of the road, where they waited until the State truck hove in sight and sanded the hill. The Danbury News stated there were 200 cars stranded on the hill, which was stretching the story by about 170.

* * *

William D. Parker, the popular proprietor of the Parker house, met with a serious accident in Kent on Friday night. With Mrs Parker, he attended a barn dance in the new barn of Stephen Chase, and in some way, stepped into a hole and fractured the bones in his right ankle. Mr Parker is getting along comfortably.

* * *

Father Daly hit the nail on the head at the hearing on the application of John H. Costello for a license, last Saturday, when he said that there were already seven too many saloons at Sandy Hook for the well being of the people, and Father Fox should be commended for his action in opposing more. He should not rest here, however, but continue the good work commenced, until the saloons are wiped out entirely, or reduced to at least a reasonable number.

* * *

A Shipwreck Dance for the benefit of the Hawley High School Athletic Association, April 1, 1932, at the Edmond Town hall, Newtown. Come in costume if possible. Prizes will be awarded for best, funniest and most original costumes. The boat leaves the gymnasium at 8 pm returning about midnight. Life savers will be furnished free of charge.

 

March 15, 1907

At Sandy Hook Hotel they opened the remodeled dining room, Monday night. It makes a handsome dining apartment and Landlord Troy will now be in a position to accommodate large parties when necessary.

* * *

Arthur T. Nettleton, treasurer of the Newtown Savings Bank, appeared before the committee on Banks, at the Legislature in Hartford, last week Thursday, in a hearing on a bill to put trust companies under the same law as savings banks. The bill provides that trust companies conducting savings departments shall be liable to the same laws that affect the savings banks of the state, shall pay the same tax on their savings deposits, and shall be restricted to the same investments and subjected to the same examinations as savings banks.

* * *

J.H. Hale of Glastonbury, well and favorably known in Newtown, says Connecticut’s peach crop, amounting on an average to $1,000,000 a year, will not amount to anything this year. The whole crop is dead, as far as any marketing of it is concerned. Mr Hale says that the warm weather in the early part of the winter had caused the buds to swell and then when the weather suddenly changed and the mercury went down with a bump, the buds were caught and killed.

* * *

Two popular young ladies went to the Botsford railroad depot, the other day, with the evident intention of going to Bridgeport. They arrived 15 minutes before the departure of the train, but became so interested in talking about the new spring bonnets, and the coming June weddings, the train pulled out to Bridgeport before they knew it. They have tried to bribe their friends to keep it quiet.

* * *

There was a break in the water main of the Newtown Water Co in front of the M.S. Otis place, Saturday. Superintendent W.B. Glover, with the assistance of the handy Patrick Gannon, put in a new section of pipe, Tuesday, and the water was turned on again, Tuesday night.